China probes defence minister for graft
BEIJING, Nov 27: Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has been placed under investigation for corruption, a report said Wednesday, the latest official to fall in a sweeping crackdown on graft in the country's military. Citing current and former US officials familiar with the situation, British newspaper the Financial Times said the investigation into Dong was part of that broader probe into military corruption. Neither Beijing's foreign ministry nor its embassy in Washington replied to AFP's request for confirmation on Wednesday morning. A former navy commander, Dong was appointed defence minister in December last year following the surprise removal of Li Shangfu just seven months into the job. — AFP
ICC arrest warrant for Myanmar junta chief
THE HAGUE, Nov 27: The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor on Wednesday asked judges for an arrest warrant for Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing for alleged crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya Muslims. "After an extensive, independent and impartial investigation, my office has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Senior General and Acting President Min Aung Hlaing... bears criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity," Karim Khan said in a statement. The ICC prosecutor in 2019 opened a probe into suspected crimes committed against the Rohingya in Myanmar's restive Rakhine state in 2016 and 2017. — AFP
Putin in Kazakhstan for two-day visit
ASTANA, Nov 27: President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Russian state media reported, as the Kremlin chief seeks to shore up ties with his Central Asian ally. During his two-day visit Putin is expected to hold talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as well as take part in a meeting of the Moscow-led CSTO security alliance in the capital Astana. — AFP
Seoul hit by record Nov snowfall
SEOUL, Nov 27: South Korea's capital was blanketed Wednesday by the heaviest November snowfall since records began over a century ago, the weather agency said. The Korea Meteorological Administration said 16.5 centimetres (6.5 inches) of snow fell by 7:00 am (2200 GMT Tuesday), compared to Seoul's previous record of 12.4 cm on November 28, 1972. Coincidentally being the first snow of the season in Seoul, it is the highest figure in November since the agency set up nationwide observation posts in 1907. A heavy snow warning urged residents to "refrain from operating vehicles and engaging in outdoor activities" and to "beware of falling trees". Such warnings are issued when snowfall accumulates to 20 cm or more within 24 hours. — AFP
Ukraine sees influx of Western war tourists
IRPIN, Nov 27: Spanish traveller Alberto Blasco Ventas looked out at Ukraine's destroyed Irpin brige, blown up to stop Russian troops in 2022 and now a hotspot for thrill-seeking tourists visiting the country. Russian forces had planned to cross the bridge in their attempts to seize the Ukrainian capital Kyiv at the beginning of the war. The Russian army has since retreated hundreds of kilometres away, but launches near-daily missile and drone strikes on the Ukrainian capital that Blasco Ventas chose as his vacation spot. —AFP
Incoming WHO Africa chief dies at 55
DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 27: The incoming World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, Faustine Ndugulile, died while receiving treatment in India, Tanzania's parliament speaker said on Wednesday. The cause of death was not made clear for Ndugulile, an MP for a constituency in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. The 55-year-old former Tanzanian deputy health minister was nominated as WHO Africa chief in August. He was due to assume office in February 2025 for a five-year term. — AFP
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